Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported Tuesday that Boston Red Sox Legend, David Ortiz, will retire after the 2016 season. David Ortiz is loved and adored by Red Sox fans in Boston, and the rest of the world. He will be celebrated as one of the Red Sox greatest bats in history.
Sources: David Ortiz will retire at end of 2016 season.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 17, 2015
Brandon Wile of the Score claims the 39 year old, who turns 40 on Wednesday, would not want the final season of his career to be a “retirement tour,” such as the rival Yankees’ stars Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera’s final seasons.
Boston Legend, David Ortiz to Retire
David Ortiz started off the 2015 season rough, however he did finish strong completing his third season in a row with at least 30 homers and 100 RBIs. The 2015 season put Ortiz in the history books becoming the 27th player in Major League history to hit 500 home-runs. Ortiz tied the franchise record for most 100-RBI seasons, and broke Ted William’s record with his ninth career season with at least 30 home-runs.
Ortiz played 146 games and had 528 at-bats in 2015. He finished the season with a .273 batting average, 37 homers and 108 RBIs. Ortiz had 614 plate appearances, third on the team behind Xander Bogarts, and Mookie Betts (both had 654). The Red Sox had a tough year finishing fifth in the AL West at 78-84, they were never really contenders. The Red Sox last series win was only two years ago in 2013.
Ortiz won three World Series titles with Boston, including the “year that broke the curse.” Ortiz is a nine time All Star, and will always be remembered as one of the league’s all-time best DH’s. Ortiz is maxed out of his $16 million team option for the 2016 season, the Red Sox hold a $10 million option the following season. It will be interesting to see what post-season moves the Red Sox make this year to make Ortiz’s last season a memorable one.
FT. MYERS, FL – FEBRUARY 22: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox takes a break from batting practice during a Spring Training workout at Fenway South on February 22, 2014 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Michael Ivins/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
